Google launches its alternative to Slack: here’s Hangouts Chat
Hangouts Chat audience roll-out started for companies as part of the G Suite. It will allow you to organize your work better, posing as an alternative to the increasingly used Slack.
Google kicked off the Hangouts Chat roll-out, a business-oriented service that allows you to exchange private and group messages and, above all, to collaborate on various projects. The software was unveiled in March 2017, but until today only companies registered in the Google’s Early Adopter Program have been able to use it. Starting this week, Hangouts Chat is available to all registered users of the G Suite, the Google software series designed for the corporate world.
Hangouts Chat is more than just software, as it is the turning point for Google in the world of messaging. In other words, the app is an unmistakable sign that Big G is interested in the corporate communication sector, going to annoy products like Slack that have slowly made their way into offices and laboratories. And Google’s proposal is completely free for those who are already registered with G Suite and use it.
Not to mention that the new Google app is integrated with all the other applications in the suite, making the various sharing operations even easier than the competition. With the updates announced along with the public roll-out of the service, users can for example: upload files in direct conversations from Drive, collaborate in the various Docs, Sheets and Slides apps, or make video calls through Hangouts Meet.
Users with administrative credentials can also archive, export and save conversation data using the Vault application. All this taking advantage of a single app package offered in a single subscription. The company also promises Hangouts Chat will use artificial intelligence systems to help with organization and improve productivity, as well as reduce stress by offering exercises for meditation and mindfulness.
Among the bots available at launch we mention @Drive, which notifies the user when a file has been added, when a user is asked to log in or comments are posted; or @Meet instead integrates with Calendar and serves to schedule appointments; and users can make other additions to optimize the app according to their needs. Hangouts Chat is obviously compatible with Hangouts, and users can use the same contacts between the two services.
The app supports 28 languages, and is available either as a web-app via browser, or as a mobile app on iOS and Android.
